Safety stretcher for ski attachment



March 5, 1963 GQREUGE 3,080,174

SAFETY STRETCHER FOR SKI ATTACK-WENT Filed Oct. 26, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I Imv mtovz [/6 (1 Guido R'Euqe b WM, 22-; mm

G. REUGE SAFETY STRETCHER FOR SKI ATTACHMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet'Z March 5, 1963 3,080,174

Filed Oct. 26, 1960 AYAV/ Tmv w o r:

United States Patent 3,080,174 SAFETY STRETCHER FOR SKI ATTACHMENT Guido Reuge, 21 Rue des Rasses, Sainte-Croix, Switzerland Filed Oct. 26, 1960, Ser. No. 65,040 Claims priority, application Switzerland Oct. 28, 1959 9 Claims. (Cl. 280-1135) The present invention has for an object a ski attachment comprising a stretcher for a traction cable surrounding the boot and passing behind the heel, this stretcher having a tension lever on which is hinged a cable holding device.

The attachment according to the invention is characterized in that it further includes a safety element mounted to slide along the axis of the ski, against the action of an elastic member, in a guide pivoting about a fixed axis relative to the ski and perpendicular to the axis of the ski. This safety element is held at one end by a hooking member, and its other end is connected to the tension lever by a pivoting axis, the whole being arranged in such a way that the said lever may be normally manoeuvered about the' said pivoting axis independently of the safety element which it covers in the closed position and which only-frees itself from the hooking emember when the cable is subjected to a traction exceeding a predetermined amount, the line of force of the traction pulling the holding device of the cable passing between the axis of the pivoting part and the hinged axis of the tension lever.

. The accompanying drawing shows, by way of example,

one embodiment of the ski attachment forming the object of the present invention as well as variants.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section of this embodiment.

FIG. 2 is an end view from the left of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1 in another position of the attachment members.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1 in another position.

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3 in another position.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 1 of a variant.

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 of another variant.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view along line 88 of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a plan view of FIG. 7, certain members having been eliminated.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are side elevational views, of two modifications of details.

FIG. 12 is an end view from the left of FIG. 11.

In all the figures, the same reference numbers indicate the same members.

The ski attachment shown in FIG. 1 includes a stretcher for a traction cable (not shown) surrounding the boot and passing behind the heel, this stretcher being mounted on a plate 1 secured to the ski 2 and having .a tension lever 3 on which is hinged at 14 a cable holding device. A safety element including a rod 5 is slidably mounted along the axis of the ski, against the action of an elastic member 6 mounted on the rod 5, in a part 7 pivoting about an axis 8 fixed relative to the ski and perpendicular to the axis of the ski. One end of the rod 5 is held by a hook 9 and its other end is connected to the tension lever 3 by a pivoting axis 10. The rod 5 is provided with a threaded part carrying a nut 11 against which bears the elastic member 6 which bears on the other end against the pivoting part 7. This nut 11 allows regulating the initial tension of the elastic member 6. This elastic member is formed by a piling up of rings 12 of toroidal shape separated by rigid washers 13.

The hook 9 is pivotally mounted on a fixed axis 14 supported by two brackets 15 integral with the plate 1 and the base of this hook 9 has a flat part 16 adapted to "ice prevent the hook from falling when it is unhooked, one of the ends of this flat part abutting against the plate 1.

The cable holding device hinged at 4 on the lever 3, includes a fork 17 having a threaded rod 18 on which is screwed a traction hook 19 for hooking the traction cable (not shown). In order to adjust the longitudinal position of the stretcher relative to the ski, that is to say the tension of the cable, it is sufiicient to screw to a greater or smaller extent the hook 19 on the rod 18.

The operation of this embodiment is the following:

The tension lever 3 is normally manoeuvered about the pivoting axis 10 from the closed position of FIG. 1 to the open position of FIG. 2, independently of the safety element which it covers in the closed position. When the cable is subjected to a traction exceeding a predetermined amount, the rod 5 is drawn backwards against the action of the elastic member 6 through the agency of the lever 3, the line of force of the traction pulling the cable holding device passing between the axes 8 and 10, as shown in FIG. 4. At the moment when the end of the rod 5 leaves the hook 9, the traction exerted. on the lever 3 causes the part 7 to swing about its axis 8, and opens out the lever to the position shown in FIG. 5, the line of force of the cable holding device passing suddenly above the axis 10 from the position of FIG. 4 to that of FIG. 5. In order to return the safety element to the position of FIG. 1, it suifices to lower the rod 5 sodas manually to catch the hook 9 over the end of this re In theembodiment of FIG. 6, the stretcher is mounted on a plate 20 sliding on a plate 21 fixed to the ski 2 and having flanges 22 forming slides for the plate 20. The front ends (that is to say directed towards the front of the ski) of the plates 20 and 21 are each provided with a bracket 23 and 24 respectively, constructed in one piece, formed by folding at right angles the end of the plate. A screw 25 fixed to the bracket 23 passes through the bracket 24 and carries a knurl headed nut 26' allowing of adjusting by hand the longitudinal position of the stretcher relative-to the ski, that is to say the tension of the traction cable. In this case, the cable hook 27 is hinged directly to the tension lever 3. For the remainder, the operation of this attachment is the same as that of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 to 9 the stretcher is mounted on a plate 28 sliding on a base plate 29 fixed to the ski 2 and which has flanges 30* serving as slides for the lateral edges of the plate 28 as shown in section in FIG. 8. A spiral threaded knurled screw 31 gearing with a rack 32 of the plate 29, allows of moving the plate 28 with the stretcher in order to adjust the longitudinal position of the stretcher relative to the ski, that is to say the tension of the cable. The knurled screw 31 is mounted in a fork 33 manufactured in one piece with the plate 28.

The front end of the rod 5 of the safety element is held by a hook 34 cut out in a metallic plate and pivoting on a fixed spindle 35 supported by two brackets 36 and 37 manufactured in one piece with the plate 28. The base of the hook 34 is provided with a part 38 parallel to the plate 28 designed to prevent the said hook from swinging in a clockwise direction beyond the position shown in FIG. 8, and a part 39 inclined relative to the part 38 to allow the hook 34 to pivot in an anticlockwise direction. A spring 40 one end of which is fixed to the plate 28 and the other to the hook 34 urges the latter in a clockwise direction when looking at FIG. 8. The bracket 37 extends to the upper part of the hook and is provided with a V-shaped notch 41 adapted to guide the end of the rod 5.

The operation of this embodiment is the following:

When the rod 5 is pulled backwards against the elastic action of the member 6 and its end leaves the hook 34, the .latter is pushed by the spring 40 in a clockwise direction as shown in FIG. 8 until the right-hand corner of the part 38 of the hook 34 abuts against the plate 28. In order to re-position the safety element, it suffices to lower the rod from its inclined position as shown in FIG. 5 and bring its end over the upper rounded part of the hook 34, and then to exert pressure on this end which pivots the book 34 in an anticlockwise direction as shown in FIG. 8 until this end as guided by the notch 41 of the bracket 37, reaches the bottom of this notch and the hook closes over this end of the rod 5 under the action of the spring 40'.

FIG. 10 shows a variant of the mounting of the hook 9 of the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 5. In this variant, the hook 9 may be adjusted longitudinally relative to the ski in order to change the freeing position of the end of the rod 5. To this end, the pivoting axis of the hook 9' is constituted by a screw 42 on which is screwed a part of this hook forming a nut. 8

FIGS. 11 and 12 show a variant of a hook 34' of the same shape as the hook 34 but thicker, this hook 34 being pivotally mounted at 43 on an angle 44 fixed to the base plate 28, This angle could also be directly fixed to the ski.

In the modification shown in FIGURES l1 and 12 the hook 34 is operated upon by a spring 40 as shown in FIGURES 7 and 8.

Although in the ski attachment described the elastic member is constituted by rings of elastic material, of toroidal shape, it is obvious that one could also employ other elastic members capable of giving satisfaction, in particular coil springs or a piling up of elastic or conical washers, for example, so-callcd Belleville Washers.

What I claim is:

l. A safety stretcher for ski fastening with a traction cable going behind the heel comprising a tightening lever, a cable-holding device pivotally connected to said lever, a guide pivoted on a horizontal axis fixed with respect to said ski and perpendicular to the axis of said ski, a safety component comprising a rod slidable in said guide axially of said ski, an elastic member cooperating with said rod to maintain the same in a set position, a hooking member pivoting on an axis extending longitudinally of the ski cooperating with one end of said safety component from which said component is freed only when the traction exerted on said cable against said elastic member exceeds a predetermined value for opening said tightening lever, said hooking member releasably holding said one end of said rod and said tightening lever being pivotally connected to the other end of said rod so that when said rod is drawn backwardly against the action of said elastic member through the agency of said tightening lever, the line of force of the traction pulling the cable holding device passes between said axis fixed with respect to the ski and the pivotal connection of the lever to the rod.

2. A. stretcher according to claim 1 wherein said guide has a longitudinal hole through which said rod passes and a transverse hole below said longitudinal hole through which said fixed axis passes.

3. A stretcher according to claim 1 wherein said rod has a threaded portion, a nut on said threaded portion, said elastic member reacting against said nut and said nut allowing the initial tension of said elastic member to be regulated.

4. A stretcher according to claim 3 wherein said elastic member comprises a row of annular elastic members.

5. A stretcher according to claim 4 wherein said elastic annular members are separated from each other by rigid washers.

6. A stretcher according to claim 1 wherein the axis of said guide and the axis of said hooking member are located on a support plate sliding on a base plate attached to a ski.

7. A stretcher according to claim 6 wherein said support plate is provided with a helicoidal-threaded screw engaging a rack in said base plate so that the longitudinal position of the stretcher can be regulated with respect to the ski.

8. A stretcher according to claim 6 wherein said support plate is integral with a projection guiding said rod, said projection being adjacent to said hooking member and having a V-shaped notch in which said rod is guided when being hooked, and a spring holding the hooking member elastically in hooking position.

9. A stretcher according to claim 1 wherein said hooking member comprises a hook in a metal plate pivoted on a corner plate attached to the ski, the end of said cornerplate adjacent to said hook having a V-shaped notch to guide said rod. onto said book when it is to be booked, and a spring holding said hook elastically in booking position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,232,596 Dodds Feb. 18, 1941 2,441,113 Kinzl May 4, 1948 2,944,828 Nashe July 12, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 932,887 France Dec. 1, 1947 1,034,246 France Apr. 8, 1953 207,306 Switzerland Jan. 16, 1940 

1. A SAFETY STRETCHER FOR SKI FASTENING WITH A TRACTION CABLE GOING BEHIND THE HEEL COMPRISING A TIGHTENING LEVER, A CABLE-HOLDING DEVICE PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID LEVER, A GUIDE PIVOTED ON A HORIZONTAL AXIS FIXED WITH RESPECT TO SAID SKI AND PERPENDICULAR TO THE AXIS OF SAID SKI, A SAFETY COMPONENT COMPRISING A ROD SLIDABLE IN SAID GUIDE AXIALLY OF SAID SKI, AN ELASTIC MEMBER COOPERATING WITH SAID ROD TO MAINTAIN THE SAME IN A SET POSITION, A HOOKING MEMBER PIVOTING ON AN AXIS EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY OF THE SKI COOPERATING WITH ONE END OF SAID SAFETY COMPONENT FROM WHICH SAID COMPONENT IS FREED ONLY WHEN THE TRACTION EXERTED ON SAID CABLE AGAINST SAID ELASTIC MEMBER EXCEEDS A PREDETERMINED VALUE FOR OPENING SAID TIGHTENING LEVER, SAID HOOKING MEMBER RELEASABLY HOLDING SAID ONE END OF SAID ROD AND SAID TIGHTENING LEVER BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO THE OTHER END OF SAID ROD SO THAT WHEN SAID ROD IS DRAWN BACKWARDLY AGAINST THE ACTION OF SAID ELASTIC MEMBER THROUGH THE AGENCY OF SAID TIGHTENING LEVER, THE LINE OF FORCE OF THE TRACTION PULLING THE CABLE HOLDING DEVICE PASSES BETWEEN SAID AXIS FIXED WITH RESPECT TO THE SKI AND THE PIVOTAL CONNECTION OF THE LEVER TO THE ROD. 